Afghanistan in Conflict

Great Game-A geopolitic contest between Britain and czarist Russia.

-Russians wanted the south and British wanted to protect India.

-Area is difficult to control.

Soviet War in Afghanistan- Leaders turned against each other in 1979 and the Soviets intervened to flank. Kremlin leaders sent tens of thousands of troops there, which turned into a hopeless battle.

Mujahedeen- US and allies supporting Afghan guerrillas who battled the Soviet Union.

Proxy war- Fighting against an enemy through another source.

Al Qaeda- Radicial Islamist who accept outside aid as a necessity, which turned on the US later on.

Kabul- Capital of Afghanistan where a divided coalition of Afghan guerrillas pushed the communists out.

Taliban- A group of Muslim students from Pakistan.

ISI- Pakistans military intelligence service.

Ahmad Massoud- A former Mujahideen leader returned to the north to form a resistance on the Taliban.

Northern Alliance- Dostum joined forces with Mossoud

-In August 1998, Al-Qaeda bombed the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania killing more than 250 people.

-October 12, 2000, Al-Qaeda bombed the USS Cole in the harbor of Aden, Yemen killing 17 US soldeires and wounding 37 others.

Hamid Karzai- A leader of the most prominent Pashtun families.